CS 71 
.L912 
1908 
no. 1 
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GENEALOGICAL QUEST 



BY WM. G. LOW 



1908 



a\ 







A GENEALOGICAL QUEST. 

July , 1908. 

Several years since, I took up, as " a matter of 
genealogical interest, the question whether the first 
Thomas Low, of my paternal line, in America wa^ 
«(i""^wiipi?re^, the son of John Lowe, captain of the 
ship Ambrose, of Winthrop's fleet in 1(5;3(». Crow- 
ell's History of Essex states such to he the case. 

P. 24. "Among the names which are known tcT 
have been long prevalent in this place 
are the following: 

1 034— John Perkins; 

1635 — Robert Andrews, Wm. Goodhue, 

George Giddings; 
1038 — John Burnham; 
1031)— Andrew Story; 
1643—Thomas Low; 
1048— John Choate." 

P. 45. " In 1 043, Thomas Low settled in this place, 
on land since owned by the late Captain 
Winthrop Low. His house was about 
thirty -five rods south of Captain Low's 
mansion." 

P. 74. . " The next town meeting was held, as the 
Record says, February ID, 1077 (new style, 
March 2, 1078), at which the town voted that 
the Selectmen confer with the Chebacco neigh- 
bors, about what they petitioned, and report 
at the next town meeting. The inhabitants 
here chose William Cogswell, John Andrews, 



Thomas Low and William Goodhue, a com- 
mittee to confer with the Selectmen." (This 
was about having preaching in Chebacco). 
" Several conferences were held, but without 
any decisive result/' 

P. 111*. " 1712, April 12th, died Dea. Thomas Low, 
aged 80. He left a widow, Martha, and seven 
children, Samuel, Jonathan, David, Martha 
Dodge, Joanna Dodge, Sarah and Abigail 
Goodhue. (Names of children not quite cor- 
rect.) He was one of the deacons of the 
church here from its commencement to his 
decease." There is much more about him, 
including an extract from his will. 

On page 478, under the head of Corrections, is the 
following : 

''Page 119 — Dea. Low was the son of 
Thomas, the first settler (see p. 45), d. Sept. 
8, 1677, and grandson of Capt. John Low, 
commander of the ship Ambrose, and Rear 
Admiral of a fleet of twelve ships, which 
sailed from England for Salem in April, 1(>;^)0. 
To Dea. Thomas' son Samuel, were born Sam- 
uel, Asa and Daniel (d. 182-t, aged 78)." 

This last-named Daniel Low was the father of 
Capt. Winthrop Lou\ who is mentioned by Prof. 
E. P. Crowell as the authority for the statement as 
to the descent from Capt. John Lowe of the Am- 
hrose. So it appears that Capt. Winthrop Low was 
a great-grandson of Deacon Thomas Low. Said 
Winthrop Low died Aug. 31, 1806, at the age of 
four score and one years. 

A sketch of his life and character appeared in the 
Salem Register not long after, from which it ap- 



pears that he was a man of firm character and 
strongly rehgious. "His power of attention was 
so great, even in his childhood, that he could recol- 
lect particular expressions in the prayers of Rev. 
Mr. Cleaveland, uttered sixty years before, and re- 
peat them as he did to a grandson of Mr. Cleave- 
land, but a short time before he died.'' He was 
much respected and lamented. It seems worth 
while to mention these things as his character is a 
factor in connection with his statement to Rev. 
Mr. Ci owell. He must have believed his statement 
to be true even if he was mistaken. 

Crowell's History speaks, on p. 854, of two 
family relics, which I, Wm. G. Low, have seen. 
The first is " a cane with a head of bone, encircled 
by a broad band of silver where it is joined to 
the cane, which was brought from Eiigland. On 
it is this inscription: ' Owned in ye Family, Engd 
about 1573; D. L., U. America, March 14, 1S()3.'" 
This inscription seems to have been put on the cane 
by Daniel Low, the father of Capt. Winthrop Low, 

The other relic is a ' ' copy of the Scriptures 
printed in 157!», pp. 554, quarto, brought to this 
country by Cai)t. John Low and handed down in 
the family from father to son as an heir-loom." 
It is of the Geneva edition; translations by Cover- 
dale, Whittihgham and others, and printed at 
London by Christopher Barker, Printer to the 
Queen. "On the blank leaves of the book are 
written the following names: 'Susan Low her 
book 1677, May 19,' 'Thomas Low his Book' (ap- 
parently written about the same time); ' Samuel 
Low ' and ' John Low.' " 

Crowell's History is followed, I believe, by Bab- 
son's History of Gloucester. See p. 113 thereof. 

Rufus Choate, Esq., of Essex, informed me that 
the matter for Crowell's History of Essex was col- 



lected by Rev. Robert Chowell, the pastor of the 
Congregational churcli there, and that, after said 
Cro well's death, the town of Essex purchased the 
collection and induced Prof. E. P. Crowell, of 
Amherst College, son of Robert, to edit it; whence 
Crowell's History referred to. 

At Mr. Choate's suggestion I wrote to Prof. 
Crowell, who is his cousin, enquiring as to the 
basis for the statement about the bible having been 
brought- over by Capt. John Lowe, &c. He re- 
}>lied : 

' ' My father obtained his information about 
it directly from Captain Winthrop Low, a 
man of clear and strong intelligence and well 
informed in historical mattei's, esi)ecially 
those relating to his family. Still he may 
have accepted a tradition which was not 
founded in fact." 

There apj)3ars to be no documentary evidence, so 
far as I am aware, on record in this country 
that is not based on this statement of Cio well's. 

Let me here give such information as I have 
about the first 'Thomas Low. 

In the early records of Ij^swich he appears to be 
mentioned more than once. 

The Ancient Records of the Town of 
Ipswich (Mass.) 

from 1034-1050 
Edited & Pubhshed by Geo. A. Schofield, 
Ipswich, Mass., of the Ipswich Chronicle. 

P. 23. April the 0th, 1041. Granted to Thomas 
Low, ten acres of upland at Chebacco, next 
his ten acres there, in exchange for 10 acres 
due to him by grant unto Mr. Rogers Com- 
pany near the three miles brook by Mr. 
Appleton's farme. 



p. 20. 4th of the 2 mo. 1643. Mr. Hubbard and 
Geo. Giddmgs are appointed to view what 
Land is convenient for Goodman Lowe, up- 
land and meadow. 

P. 25 July 18, 1<;4?). Granted to Thomas Low 
6 acres of marsh beyond Chebacco River. 

P. 29. At a meeting the 4th of 11 mo. 1(14(1. The 
names of such as promise carting voluntary 
toward the cart Bridge, beside the rate, 
a 2 day work apiece, Mr. Symonds, 
Mr. Appleton, Mr. Eogers, Deacon 
Whipple, Sergeant Jacob, Thomas Bishop, 
Ensign Howlett, Goodman Griffin, Mr. 
Hubbard, Mr. William Payne, John 
Andrews, Jun., Samuel Pod, Mr. Wade, 
Mr. Robert Payne, Daniel Warner and 
Thomas Safford, Thomas Stace, Good- 
man Foster, Edward Brag and Goodman 
Loe, Goodman Adams, Goodman Gittings, 
Mr. Cogswell and Goodman Wiat. 

P. a. The generall Towne meeting held the 10th 
of December, 1 648. A list of the names of 
those that did subscribe their names to allow 
unto Major Denison three severall somes 
yearly while he continued to be our Leader — 
(Among them) Thos. Loe <> 2 u 

(probably shillings) 

Whether all these references are to the same per- 
son I do not know. The one of the 4th of the 
2 mo. 1643 might indicate a new and landless 
arrival. 

There is a deposition on record made in 1660 by 
Thomas Low (1) and by his daughter Sarah, in 
which his age is given as about 55 and hers as 



c 

about 23. It was made in complaint of Fuller v. 
Lee, Essex Court Files, book 5, leaf SO, aud was 
sworn in court held at Ipswich the 25th of Septem- 
ber, 1 ()()(). 

Thomas Low (1) of that part of Ispwich, Mass., 
called Chebacco Parish, now town of Essex. His 
Will dated 20 Apr. 1077, proved 6 Nov. 1677 
(see Essex Probate Files 17242) mentions wife 
Susanna and children John, Thomas, Margaret and 
Sarah and grand-children Thomas Low, Margaret 
Davisson, Sarah Safford and Sarah Low. 

He died 8 Sept. 1677. 

His son John m. 10 Dec. 1661, Sarah Thorndike, 
of Beverlv. 

Margaret m. Daniel Davisson. 

Sarah m. Joseph Safford. 

His son Thomas Low (-). 

M. -t July 16()0 Martha Boreman, (dan. Thos. B.) 

Born about 1632 or 1631. d. 12 Apr. 1712, aged 
80 yrs. 

Will dated 17 June, 1708; proved 5 May, 1712; 
Essex County Probate Files 172-I:L 

Tombstone with inscription in Essex churchyard. 
Children: Thomas B. 14 Apr. 1661. 
m. (1) Mary Brown. 

.(2) Sarah, dan. of Harlakenden Simonds. 

2. Samuel (d. before 6 Mar; 1724). 

3. Jonathan, b. 7 July, 1665. 

4. David, b. 14 Aug. 1667. 

m. 28 Dec. 161>9. Mary Lamb, dau. Caleb 

Lamb, of Eoxbury. 
He d. before 25 Nov. 1736. 

5. Martha, b. 10 March, 1669. 
m. / ^cA A /U!i- - Dodge. 

6. Joanna, m. Hale. 



7. Sarah, m. Nathan Webstei* . p 

8. Abigail, m. Joseph %mr^.^(><>t>C*tciJL. 

9. Nathaniel, d. 30 Jnly, 1693. 
10. John, d. 29 Nov. 1695. 

Thomas Low((-)'s son, David, was my ancestor. 

The son Thomas (3) who married Sarah Symonds, 

moved to Gloucester. 
John Wiuthrop's History of New England opens 

as follows: 

"A. D, 1630, March 29, Monday (Easter 
Monday). Riding at the Cowes, near the 
Isle of Wight, in the Arhdla, a ship of 350 
tons, whereof Capt. Peter Milborne was 
master, being manned with fifty -two seamen 
and twenty-eight pieces of ordnance (the 
wind coming to the N . by W. the evening 
before), in the morning there came aboard us 
Mr. Cradock, the late governor, and the mas- 
ters of his two ships, Capt. John Lowe, mas- 
ter of the Amhrose, Si\\(X Mr. Nicholas Hurl- 
ston, master of the Jewel, and Mr. Thomas 
Beecher, master of the Talbot (which three 
ships rode then by us — the Charles, the May- 
floiuer, the Williant and Francis, the Hope- 
well, the Whale, the Success and the Trial 
being still at Hampton and not ready), 
when upon conference, it was agreed that 
(in regard it was uncertain when the rest of 
the fleet would be ready) these four ships 
should consort together; the Arhella to be 
admiral, the Talbot vice-admiral, the Am- 
brose rear-admiral, and the Jeivel a captain; 
and accordidgly articles of consortship were 
drawn between the said captains and mas- 
ters; whereupon Mr. Cradock took leave of 
us, and our captain gave him a farewell with 
four or five shot." 



They came to anchor off Yarmouth. April Sth 
they finally sailed for America. 

Having gotten together the above, I decided to 
prosecute my quest by first discovering the home 
port of the Ambrose; then, if possible, identifying 
her captain, John Lowe, and next ascertaining 
whether he had a son Thomas Lowe. Through a 
correspondent of Mr. Russell Loines, I found that 
there was in the Record Ofiice in London mention 
of the grant of letters of Marque in ] 629-30 to the 
Ambrose of Ipswich, Capt. John Lowe. This 
record will be given later 

Turning my attention to Ij^swich, England, re- 
search among the church and other records there 
brough to light a family of marinei's and vessel 
owners named Lowe. As will appear later, the 
ownership of the A^nbrose was, in part at least, 
held by this family and its kindred, and no other 
family of mariners of the name appearing in Ips- 
wich, it seems \\\^\\y jrrobable that the captain John 
Lowe sought for was a member of this family or 
some branch of it . Of this I feel confident. 

It is desirable that I now record much of what 
has been found about this Lowe family of Ips- 
wich, County Suffolk, England. 

There appear to have been several brothers, viz: 
John, Matthew, Barnabas, Robert, and a sister 
named Bridget, m. Daniel Croford, children of 
William Lowe and Margaret (Wardall) Lowe. 
Margaret Lowe was a sister of Rev. Robert Ward- 
all, minister of St. Clement's parish church in Ips- 
wich from 1583-1006, and the records of that 
parish give most of the baptisms, &c., in the family, 
though not quite all. St. Margaret's furnishes a few 
items. 

As a starting point, I propose now to cite the 



Will of John Lowe, mariner, who m. Susan Series, 
12 Aug. 15S3: 

Will of John Lowe, 
of Ipswich, CO. Suffolk, mariner 
dated, 3 Dec, 1612. 

I bequeath to the poor of St. Clement's where I 
do now dwell £(>. . 

To my wife, Susan, so long as she remains un- 
married, all my tenements in Ipswich for life. 

To my son, William Lowe and the heirs of his 
body, my dwelling house in St. Clement's, Ipswich, 
a half quarter of the ship Rebecca. 

To my son, John Lowe, and his lawful heirs, the 
tenement where Jeremy Joyner now lives, a half 
quarter of the ship Tobias and a half quarter of 
the Little Suzan. 

To my son, Thomas Lowe and his lawful heirs, 
the tenement where my sister Bridget dwells in 
Wykes Bishopp, also my lighter or vessel called 
The William and a quarter of the ship Little 
Suzan . 

To my son, Richard Lowe and his heirs, my tene- 
ment where John Chaplin now dwells in Ipswich 
and a quarter of my best ship. 

To my son, Robert Lowe and his lawful heirs, my 
tenement where Edward Lavericke now dwells in 
Ipswich and one-half of my lighter The Robert and 
a quarter of my best ship, at his age of 18. 

To my daughter Suzan, wife of Edmond Humfrey 

£50. 

To my daughter Margaret £200. 
To my daughter Elizabeth £200. 
To my brother's daughter, Thomasine Low, £5, 



10 

Residuary legatee and executrix — my said wife. 
Overseer: My friend, William Hamont; he to 
have 4(»s. for his pains. 

(Signed) John Lowe. 

Witnesses: Chr. Ballard, Thomas Gosslyn, 
William Wade, John Ballarde. 

Proved: 12 July, 1()14, by Suzan Lowe, relict 
executrix of deceased. 

Will of Susan Lowe 

of Ipswich, CO. Suffolk, widow, 

dated 18 Nov., 1()2;3. 

Bequeaths to her five sons, William, John, 
Thomas, Robert and Richard Lowe, all the ship- 
ping left me by their father, John Lowe, my late 
husband, deceased, to be divided equally among 
them. 

Makes various bequests, including £20 to each of 
her daughters, Suzan, Margaret and Elizabeth. 

Also, leaves Mr. Samuel Ward e, preacher, 20 s. — 
( Thij Mu. WiiLid iiij uuIjiuIjij l1 Ijj bj biuljh^i tiU llui . 

Leaves Mr. Thomas Scott, parson of St. Clem- 
ent's 20 s. 

To her sister Wilkenson 40 s. 

Executors, sons William, Richard and Robert. 

Proved 10 June, 1()20, by Robert Lowe, son. 

Power reserved to William and Richard, when 
they shall apply for the same. 

Robert Lowe's will is extaiit but none by the 
other sons, so far as I find. 



II 

From St. Clement's Records. 

John Lowe-Susan Series, m. 12 Aug., 1583, 

Mariner. 

Their children — 
William Lowe, bapt. 10 May, 1584. 

John Lowe ■^ bapt. 11 Sept. 1586; probably m. 

Ellen Revett, dau. Edward 
Revett, she bapt. IT Mch., 
1590. 

Had son Thomas, bapt. is June, 

1620. 
Had dau. Ellen, bapt. 24 Aug., 
1621. 

(As far as records of St. 
Clement's show). 

Thomas Lowe, bapt. 23 June, 15U4; m. Cicely 

Forde, 21 Dec, 1617. 

Richard Lowe, bapt. 30 July, 1598. 

Robert Lowe, bapt. 27 Dec, 1603, m. 

(1) Margaret Caine, 30 Nov., 
1626. 

(2) EKzabeth 

Will proved 23 Nov., 1644. 

Susan Lowe, bapt. 8 Sept., 1588; m. Edmond 

Humfrey. 

Margaret Lowe, bapt. Iti April, 1592. 

EHzabeth Lowe, bapt. 6 June, 1596. 

Rose, bapt. 17 May, 1590, 

and 

Rebecca, ' bapt. 17 Nov., 1601, are not men- 
tioned in wills. Probably had 
died. 



12 

Apprenticeships. 

Out of about a dozen recorded cases of appren- 
tices taken by the Lowes I select the following: 

lOol 1. Indenture of Apprenticeship made the 
20th day of May, 42 EKzabeth (lOoi) be- 
tween Richard Dawtrey, son of Henry 
Dawtrey, of Ipswich, miller, deceased, and 
John Lowe, of Ipswich, mariner, for \) 
years. 

1601 2. Indenture of Apprenticeship made the 
17th day of April, 1()01, between Joseph 
Rushbrooke, son of William Rushbrooke 
of Buddesdale (Botesdale) Suffolk, draper, 
and John Lowe of Ipswich, mariner, and 
William Lowe, his son, for T years. 

1604 3. Indenture of Apprenticeship made the 
20th day of January, 45 Elizabeth (1604) 
between John Ryvers the younger son of 
John Ryvers the older of Chattisham, Suf- 
folk, husbandman, deceased, and John 
Lowe of Ipswich, mariner, and William, 
his son, for 9 years. 

1603 4. Indenture of Apprenticeship made the 1 0th 
day of April, 1 James ( 16(>3) between Robert 
Linge, son of Robert Linge of Clopton, Suf- 
folk, yeoman, and John Lowe the elder of 
Ipswich, mariner, and John Lowe, Junior, 
of Ipswich, mariner, for years. 

1606 5. Indenture of Apprenticeship made the 17th 
day of November, 3 James (1606) between 
William Wade, son of Edmond Wade of 
Ipswich, carpenter, deceased, and John 
Lowe of Ipswich, mariner, and John Lowe, 
his son, for 1> years. 



13 

1601) 6. Indenture of Apprenticeship made the 16th 
daj of June, 6 James (1609) between Arthur 
Hey ward, son of John Hey ward of Ben- 
nington, husbandman, and John Lowe of 
Ipswich, mariner, and Wilham Lowe of 
Ipswich, mariner, for 6 years. 

161:^ 7. Indenture of Apprenticeship made the l-tth 
day of February, James (1612) between 
John Barnes, son of Thomas Barnes of 
Ipswich, shoemaker, and John Lowe of 
Ipswich, mariner, and Ellen, his wife, for 
7 years. 

16 14 8. Indenture of Apprenticeship made the 25th 
day of December, 11 James (1614) between 
Rauffe Sawnson^e, son of John Sawnsome 
of Ipswich, weaver, deceased, and John 
Lowe, Junioi", of Ipswich, maiiner, and 
Ellen, his wife, for 6 years. 

BuKGESSSHip Records. 

The following, drawn from Corporation Records 
at Ipswich, is of interest and apparently refers to 
the same Lowe family. It was furnished to me by 
Leo Culleton, of 92 Piccadilly, London. Only sons 
of freemen born after their father's admission could 
claim admission by patrimony. 

John Lowe, 

admitted free burgess by fyne in 1593, haring 
then two soris. Previously as * ' Chamberlain. '' 
Fyne £15. " The so-called fyne was assessed 
according to the substance of the applicant. 
£15 was a large sum and indicates a rich 
man." 



14 

William Lowe, 
living in 1503. Admitted freeman by servi- 
tude to his father, John Lov^e (/, e., served a 
freeman at least 7 years by indenture), 7 
Dec, 1620. Had sons John and Wilham liv- 
ing in 1020. 

John Lowe, 
living in 1593. Admitted freeman by servi- 
tude to his father, John Lowe, 7 Dec, 1620, 
having then two sons, Jolni and William. 

N. B. 

Thomas Lowe, 
son of John Lowe, admitted freeman by patri- 
mony 13 June, 1()17^, having then no son. 

Richard Lowe, 
son of John Lowe, admitted freeman by patri- 
mony 7 Dec, 1620, having then no son. 

Robert Lowe. 
Record does not state whose son. Admitted 
freeman by patrimony 12 Feb., 1624, having 
then no son. 

If the younger John Lowe, mentioned above, is 
the husband of Ellen (Revett), no mention is made 
of the Thomas Lowe, baptized at St. Clement's, 18 
June, 1620. It may be that the child had died be- 
fore the 7th of Dec, 1620. No baptism of sons 
mentioned as John and William appears in the St. 
Clement's records. It is possible that John m. 
Ellen elsewhere and that their earlier children were 
baptized elsewhere, also. It seems needless, per- 
haps, to point out that, if John and Ellen had had 
a son, Thomas, born in 1605, they would hardly 
have given the child, in 1620, the same name, had 



15 

the earlier one survived until that time. It is 
possible, but not probable, that the Thomas, b. in 
1620, was not an infant. 

As helping to connect this family of Lowe with 
the Ambrose, I should show its kinship to the 
Croforrls, who are mentioned as part owners of 
said Ambrose. As mentioned above, the mother of 
John Lowe, the elder, husband of Susan, was Mar- 
garet Wardall. Her daughter, said John's sister, 
Bridget, married Daniel Cioifort, or Crofford, and 
had four fcons, Daniel, Thomas, John and Barvahas. 
The last named m. in 1028, and had a son, William. 

Mr. Redstone, also, has furnished me a record as 
follows: "Partes of the shippes that I, Barnabas 
Croffoi'd, have in the Kinges service as followeth: 

One-eighth of the Anthonie-Jeremie Cornelus 
One-eighth of the Elizabeth-Thomas Humphrey 
On3-eigAth ol th3 Alls 3- William Flete 
One-sixteenth of the Reconfer-Robert Church 
One-sixteenth of the A nibi-ose- John Lowe 
One-sixteenth of the Mary-Thomas Wright." 

Barnabas was cousin to John Lowe, the younger, 
supposedly captain of the Ambrose. 

1 propose now to introduce some extracts from 
the records of the High Court of Admiralty fur- 
nished me by V. B. Redstone, F. R. }i%., of Wood- 
bridge, CO. Suffolk, England, together with his 
letter about the same. 

Warrant Book, 1 Oct., 1(;25 

No. 15 

Arrest certain sums of money in the hands 
of John Lowe, master of the ship The Abra 
ham, of Ipswich, on behalf of Jones nnd Wm. 
Rope in causa maritimi et civili. Actio 5 li. 



10 

Warrant Book, 2-1: Oct., 1620 (fol. 3d) 

No. 10 

Arrest John Lowe, master of the ship the 

Ambrose, of the port of Ipswich, whereso- 

• ever he may be, on behalf of Edward Whit- 

inge in causa salar. Accio 5 li. Salar. 4 li 5s. 

Letters of Marque Bonds, 10 July, 1027. 

No. -1. 

The Margaret of Ipswich, Captain Crof- 
ford. 

(Signed) B. Crofford, 
Jn. Barker, 
Wm. Fenwicke. 

16 July, 1027. 

The Anne of London, Richard Lowe, Cap- 
tain. 

(Signed) Rich. Low^e, Capn. 
Jno. Perry, 
Geo. Ridell. . 

Trinity House Certifi. 14 Jan., 1025. 
i. e. 10 25/20. 

S. P. D. Car. I., Vol. XVI. 

No. 10. 

Right Excelleuf: 

May it please your Grace to be Advertised 
That there is now in the river of Thames a 
new Shipp built at Ipswich by Saphire Foard, 
Shippwright, called by the name of the Am- 
brose ■ of Ipswich of the burthen of 250 
Tonnes or thereabouts, Whereof are owners 
Wm. Loue, Ww. Crofford and John Loiue 
with others the said John Lowe being (under 
God) designed Master. 



17 

The said owners desiring to have for tiieir 
said Shippes defence in her intended voyages 
to the Seas 4 sacres and 12 Mynions of cast 
iron ordinance do humbly pray your Graces 
Warrant for laying aboard their said shippe 
the said 12 Minions & -t sacres putting in 
bond for not alienating the same according 
to the orders. And so we humbly take our 
leaves and ever Rest. 

Your Graces most humbly at command, 

Trinity House Ratcliffe. 

J. Best, 
Samuell Dows, 
Robert Bell, 
Jno. Bennett. 

To the Right Excellent our Veiy Good Lord 
George Duke of Buckingham Lord High 
Admiral of England and his Grace. 

S. P. Dom. Car. I. Vol. 130. 

Entry Book of Letters of Marque 'granted 
by the Commissioners ajjpointed by letters 
under the great seal of England to give War- 
rant to the Judge of the Admiralty for the 
time being to issue letters of marque or re- 
prisal out of the High Court of Admiralty 
in his Majesty's name to such of his Majes- 
ty's subjects as have suffered loss or damage 
by the King of Spain, the Archduchess or 
any of their subjects. ) 

1028-1632. 

Page 41. 

Ambrose. The like was granted unto Jo. 
Lowe & others to set forth the Ambrose of 



18 

Ij)siu/ch of about 2<»o tons whereof the said 
Jo. is Captaine. 

Dated 4 Martii, 1021) (/. r., 10 2\)/S()\ 

Page 42. 

A duplicate of above entry. 

The bond signed by Jo. Lowe upon the issue of 
the Warrant is not among the Bonds for years 
1628-31, No. 5. 

Bonds given for letters of marque were also ex- 
amined in Bks. No. 4, 1625-28; No. 6, 1632-31. 

Trinity House Certificates, 1626. 

Ships of Ipswich. 

S. P. D. Book 16. 

"Elizabeth." Owners, Jno. Clinch, mer- 
chant; Barnaby Croford, Thos. Sylvester & 
Thos. Humphrey, master. 

"Margaret." Owners, Wm. Croford, Thos. 
Sylvester and Barnaby Croford, Master. 

"Wm. &'Thos." Barnaby Croford, John 
Ketcher, Wm. Pett, of Ipswich, and Thos. 
Silvester, Master. 

" Wm." Owners, Wm. Lowe, of Ipswich, 
mariner, Wm. Joanes, of London, rope- 
maker, with others. Robert Lakeland, 
Master. 

A vessel named the "William," Capt. Barnaby 
Lowe, was the largest of three vessels contributed 
by Ipswich towards meeting the Spanish Armada 
(See Hist, of Ipswich). 

On the return to Europe, after accompanying 
Winthrop's fleet to Salem in 163(), the Ambrose was 
dismasted off Newfoundland, and was towed by her 
consort the Lyon, Capt. Pierce, to Bristol, England. 



Warrant Book No. 19. W Nov., 16 J J 
1632-1634 

Arrest John Lowe, master of the Ambrose, 
wheresoever he may be, on behalf of Robert 
Giitteridge, Wilhani Yickers, John Barker, 
and their companions of the said ship in causa 
loss of salary. 

23 Nov. 1633. 

Arrest Jonathan Andrews, merchant, 

wheresoever he may be, on behalf of John 

Lowe, master of the ship, called the Ambrose, 

. of the port of London, in causa subn nauti, 

&c. 

Acta Book, No. 34. 
fol. 387b. 

JohesLowe, magr. navis the Ambrose, con. 
Jonathan Andrewes. 

Die lunae vicesimo quinto die mensis 
Novembris, Anno Duo. 16)33, coram dno. 
Judice, &c., in camera sua, &c., prod te 
Edmundo Bryan, note publico,' &c. 

Wyan exhibuit procuriu sui pro dco. Lowe 
seque partem pro eodem fecit. 

Et Williamson exhibuit procuriu sui pro 
dco. Andrewes se que fecit partem prooedem. 

Et tunc Wyan in prodtia Wmsou. dedit 
(ut assevit) allegacoem. in scriptis conceptam 
quam dus. ad eius petitoem admisit quatus de 
Jure sit admit tendam. 

Tunc Wyan super dea allegacon produxit 
deum. Andrewes prodtem. in Juditio quern 
dus. jurat oneravit et monuit ad subeundum 
eius examen citra prox : Deinde Wyan super 
dca. allegacoe. produxit in testes quosdem 



20 

Robei'tum Heyward, Robert Gutteridge, 
Simoneni Strippelinge et Georgmm Nelson 
quos dus. ad peticoem. recipit jurato eneravit 
et monuit subeuiidum evid. exrd. citra prox. 
In prodtia Wyan disserdet protestans de 
nullite et de dicendo con eoren du. et depones 
si, &c., et haben pro Intei'rijstompusconsue- 
tum. 

Letter of Mr. Vincent B. Redstone, F. R. H. S. 

Woodbridge, 18 May, IIKIS. 
Dear Mr. Loire — 

I herewith send the result of my search, re 
the Ambrose, among the Records of the High 
ct. of the Admiralty. 

Many of the volumes & bundles had not 
been examined since the days they were first 
filed, consequently I had often to wait whilst 
they were being stamped. I do not think I 
have exhausted all the material which may 
throw light upon the Ambrose, but to my 
mind it is perfectly clear that the John Lowe, 
its mast er, was the husband of Ellen Revett, 
and born in 1586, had a son Thos. L. born in 
1620, and could not therefore be the father of 
the Thos. Lowe founder of your house, who 
was born in 1605. I have made a second and 
most careful examination of the register of 
St. Mary le Tower and St. Margaret's Ipswich, 
and could not see the entry of the baptism of 
a Thos. Lowe, 1600-1620. 

From the enclosed note, it appears evident 
that the John Lowe master of the ' Abra- 
ham ' of Ips. 1625, was the John Lowe, mas- 
ter of the newly-built Ambrose, and part 



21 

owner with his brother Wni. Lowe, his kins- 
men Wm. Croford & Barnaby Croford; that 
the Ambrose of Ipswich was the same as the 
Ambrose of London, for as Mr. R. CI. Mars- 
den informs me, it was frequently the case 
for ships on the East coast to claim London 
as their port. Mr. Marsden is our greatest 
autliority upon naval records, vide publica- 
tions Selden Socy. Roy, Hist. Socy. & Hist. 
Review. 

It appears that his ship coming home a 
derelict, Lowe was unable to pay his men's 
salary; that he endeavored to obtain the 
money from Jonathan Andrewes, the Loudon 
merchant, by whom his ship had been hired; 
that the case may have been settled out of 
court (according to Mr. Marsden) after a post- 
l^onement for examination of evidence had 
been granted. I was unable to find the con- 
clusion of trial. 

The name Lowe was so common in nauti- 
cal circles that I was at a loss what records 
to retain a note of. The mass of annual rec- 
ords in various forms is great. 

For my fees and expenses I am unable to 
charge less than * * * 

Kind regards. 

Yours faithfully, 
(Signed) Vincent B. Redstone. 

From the foregoing it would seem that the rec- 
ords, as far as they are accessible, indicate that the 
first Thomas Lowe in America was probably not 
the son of Capt. John Lowe of the Ambrose. 

WM. G. LOW. 



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